“Feeling like you aren’t living up to someone’s expectations my Love?” The voice asking that question was warm and soft. It took me a few seconds to clear my head enough to realize that Julia was the one asking me that question. “What a shock it would be if it wasn’t Julia though!”
“Oh crap,” I said. “Damn that Mr. Snoozer.”
Julia reached out and silently pulled me close to her. She just looked at me for a long while before saying, “So… You were dreaming about sleeping until almost 2:00 PM and then rushing to get ready to have your apartment inspected. I’m guessing the dream ended before the inspector arrived?”
I nodded in the darkness and then said, “Yes,” realizing that she might not be able to see me. She ran a finger lightly down the side of my face and said, “Don’t be mean to Mr. Snoozer. He’s not a bad guy and really looks out for you.” She then giggled softly and kissed me lightly on the lips.
“Yeah,” I said. “I guess,” I then added.
Julia then propped herself up on one elbow and looked at me with that penetrating stair of hers and asked again, “Feeling like you aren’t living up to someone’s expectations my Love? It couldn’t be anything to do with inspections for real, could it? Goldberg Realty is on top of everything that’s going on at Newtonian Gardens right now. They are taking care of everything as it needs to be done. So…”
I didn’t say anything for a while and just lay there, thinking. I wasn’t sure what to say.
I’m pretty sure Julia understood and she didn’t press. She simply rearranged a few pillows so that she could lay beside me studying my face while running her fingers through my hair.
I finally said, “I guess there is that possibility. I never did think Section 8 would be a part of my past. But it finally is. Maybe there’s just a small part of me that’s concerned I might end up back on Social Security Disability and all that stuff again. So… Yeah… The dream reflects that.”
Julia continued stroking my hair and said, “Do you feel like you’ve still got some catching up to do?” I nodded this time without speaking knowing for sure she would at least feel my head move under her light touch, if nothing else.
“It’s kind of stupid isn’t it?” I asked. “No,” she said. “It isn’t stupid at all,” she said.
Then she continued, “You’ve been making money like nobody’s business. But you’ve been doing it for a relatively short period of time. You’ve spent over two decades of your life just managing to survive and have done a remarkable amount with very little despite the fact you didn’t really have the tools you needed. And… Even though you finally did find those tools, ‘Pretty much on your own,’ you don’t feel like you’ve got a solid handle on things yet. So… You have dreams like the one you just woke from.”
She then slid over and wrapped herself around me saying, “Please let me know when I’m off the mark. I’m really not trying to put words in your mouth or tell you what the interpretation of ‘your’ dream should be.” She then kissed me lightly again and gave me a gentle long squeeze, which actually felt really good.
“No,” I said. “Your assessment makes sense,” I continued. I then kissed her back before slipping out of bed to relieve myself and freshen up a bit in the bathroom.
When I came back towards the bed I felt a hand grab mine and give a gentle tug as Julia quietly said, “Come here.” When I slipped under the covers she then held me close for a long time before saying, “You look tired and it’s way early. It’s ok to just let go and fall asleep again. I don’t mind.”
We then shifted around a bit so Julia was laying on top of me. And… Uh… Yeah… I think I was dosing in and out a bit; me feeling like I’d lost time. The whole experience was quite pleasant though. However, when it really was time to get up and start the day Julia assured me that I was everything she wanted in the moment. When I looked at her questioningly she playfully kissed me and laughed before springing out of bed saying, “Race you to the shower,” as she dashed into the bathroom at break neck speed.
We both had work we needed to get done before we headed out in the afternoon to meet up with a friend/client of mine, who was down from Pennsylvania with her son. And… Yes… We were quite successful in getting things done with time to spare; Julia convincing me to take a twenty-minute nap before we left, which I did.
Upon my waking, out the door we went. Our meeting place was the Hampton Diner and Tammy, our waitress took excellent care of all of us.
My friend/client, Marilyn and her son were telling us about the new diet they’re on. I told Marilyn I was looking forward to her pending days as a swimsuit supermodel, which she and Julia found to be amusing for some reason. I don’t know. It is something to shoot for, “Isn’t it?”
Anyhow… Marilyn and I only talked shop for a few minutes. So, lunch was mostly just a relaxing social thing, “Which was enjoyable for everyone.”
When Julia and I got back home, we kind of just chilled around the house; me mostly hanging here in the study and Julia out in the living room cranking out the classic rock tunes on the stereo. She really seems to be in an AC/DC sort of mood tonight.
I keep hearing the song, “You Shook Me All Night Long,” in particular. I think she’s played that like three times in the last hour. You know? “That just might be a hint at something!”
And… Yes… Now I’m hearing the stereo being turned off and… Yeah… Hear comes the sound of feet in my direction. “Time to go!”